A 10 minute walk South from Plaza Del Sol. It is a free museum dedicated to The history of Printing and Graphic Arts. On the first floor, there are several printing presses going back the when making books relied on strong men working huge vise machines, to mechanical beasts that cranked out hundreds of color images for magazines without an ink jet printer.
Also you will find the science and mechanics of creating the type settings that created letters as well as words. Getting images on paper before took a great deal of ingenuity and creating multi-color images took even more. Finding out how humans did it mechanically is a fascinating process you will find out here.
On the second floor you will find temporary exhibits dedicated to comic books, cartoons, and current animation. The history of the progression from paper comics to the modern movies is explained and is very interesting.
The museum is free and open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm. If you are into mechanical devices and fascinated on how things work, this is for you. A non Spanish treat you were not expecting to find in Madrid.
If you are looking for a cheap and fast meal and you are by Plaza Mayor, this is the best deal I could find. Located on Calle de Campana is one of the most popular spots to grab a bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich). Bar La Campana doesn’t make much else other than the delicious sandwich, but they do it to perfection. It’s a place all the locals know about and tourists miss.
It comes two ways, a sandwich and a plate. The plate is a heaping order of fried calamari rings and the sandwich is about the same amount on a bun. But this is the secret. The sandwich is half the price of the plate and enough for a meal. The plate is 6 Euro at the time of this writing, and the sandwich is 3. Then there is the Tapas.
Have a look – https://youtu.be/0FkXY3LUzBw
If you order something to drink, you also get a heaping plate of olives. This comes to about 2 Euros. The drink with the Tapas and the sandwich, comes to 5 Euro! This is a full meal a will last until the next time you have to eat, a great meal at a great price!
There is usually a queue, but it is worth the wait to watch the staff fry up their fresh calamari just behind the counter. If you are going on a walking tour at Plaza Mayor, or just ended you day of site seeing, this is where you want to stop.
Great restaurant with excellent food and lower than normal prices that are around the center. Odering an appitizer is as much as other places entres, but away from the center of town.
Did someone say free food? At Petisqueira that 1.75 euro beer will also get you a heaping plate of free tapas. Madrid staples like patatas bravas (fried potato wedges with a ketchup-like sauce), tortilla española (egg and potato omelet wedge) and croquetas de jamón (cured ham croquettes) are delicious, plentiful and, best of all, free!
Launched as a small enterprise in Alcalá de Henares in 1989, today Índalo Tapas has about ten bars around Madrid. The secret to their success? Offering cold beers, friendly service and, in particular, the free tapas that go with each drink. Chicken escalope, hamburger, fried eggs with ham and chips, croquettes, spicy ‘chistorra’ sausage omelette… there’s something for everyone, and the dishes are always served freshly cooked. If you’re up for more, they also do good-value breakfasts, à la carte items and combo plates.
FREE FOOD – This tavern dedicated to bullfighting is a local favourite, which means it’s a hard place to get into at the weekends. But if you manage to get yourself a space at one of its decorative barrels or at the long bar, you’ll discover why it’s so famous. Each round of drinks comes with one or more plates of food – generous and delicious. Paella, calamari, potatoes with chorizo… you’ll leave stuffed to the gills. Lots of groups of young friends wind up here.
Free FOOD – Close to Puerta del Sol, you’ll find this bar with a small restaurant at the back, famous for its generous tapas that come with every round of drinks. Since the word spread, every Friday evening it’s full of groups of friends downing beers and scoffing tapas before heading off for a big night out. The tapas are abundant and delicious, although don’t expect anything too fancy – Russian salad, home-made meatballs, muscles, sausages, ham, chicken wings… perfect for filling up.
FREE FOOD – Being so close to El Tigre meant that for years this bar was generally regarded as the second-best option if ‘The Tiger’ was full. However, with time El Respiro has won a coveted spot on the list of best places to have a beer in Madrid. The beer is well-pulled, the service attentive and the tapas (potatoes with sausages and pepper, chicken with garlic sauce, savoury pastries, paella, etc.) are plentiful, tasty and, best of all, free. With a couple of rounds, you will have satisfied any hunger pangs. Get there early at the weekend because now the word is out, it fills up fast.
Located on a small side street just off Plaza Mayor, this bar is one of the most popular spots to grab a bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich). Bar La Campana doesn’t make much else other than the delicious sandwich, but they do it to perfection. There is usually a queue, but it is worth the wait to watch the staff fry up their fresh calamari just behind the counter. Sandwiches are a steal at €2.70 (£2.45).
Situated off the stately Plaza Mayor, Mercado San Miguel was founded over 100 years ago and reopened in 2009 after extensive restoration. The wrought-iron and glass structure is packed with takeaway stalls and tapas bars where you’ll rub shoulders with stylish Madridleños as well as foodie travellers. Visit Basque specialist Amaiketako and tuck into its tuna, anchovy and piparra chilli pepper salad; sample one of the Spanish capital’s best burgers at Raza Nostra, which justifiably refers to itself as the temple of meat; or choose from more than 200 vinos and sherries on offer at Pinkleton & Wine. Shopping and snacking doesn’t get much classier than this.
Sidrería El Tigre has become very popular among Madrid’s student scene and it’s easy to see why. Its food and drink offering is probably among the best value in the city. Beers are served in smaller caña size or larger half-litre size, and come with a plate stacked high with classic tapas dishes such as patatas bravas, croquetas, jamon and more. Just a stone’s throw from Círculo de Bellas Artes and Gran Via, it’s perfect if you’ve spent a long day exploring the city centre and want to relax with some great food and drink on a budget.
FREE FOOD – If you can actually make it through the door, order a beer or a cider and marvel at the hefty tapas that come with it – patatas bravas, jamón serrano, Spanish omelette… it’s all free, and each plate varies (and gets bigger) with each round.
FREE FOOD – With all due respect to the Alhambra, there’s no Granada souvenir or landmark that symbolises the city as much as its tapas. The owners of La Pequeña Graná have imported the tradition of beer with a ‘lid’ (‘tapón’), as a way to keep their customers happy without them having to reach into their wallets. Goat’s cheese and crispy bacon toasts, wraps with spicy meat, and mushroom croquettes are some of the delicacies that you can get when you order a beer.
One of Madrid’s most famous confectionery stores, Chocolat, in the Las Letras neighbourhood is a fantastic place to grab yourself a traditional Spanish churro. Not only is the dough made fresh by hand in the shop, but you can also sample the shop’s famous handmade chocolate as a dip too. In Spain, churros are often used to start the day, but with Madrid’s reputation for late nights leading to early mornings, you might find yourself sampling one on your way home too.
Meeting Point – Plaza Del Callao. Look for the Purple Umbrella
Their Description – The best free tour of Madrid! Free Walking Tours Madrid promotes a tourism that fuses entertainment, culture and respect for the city. Join and discover Madrid with us!
Have you never done a Free Tour before?Then come and discover the best Free Tour of Madrid! We will show you the best of the city, we will tell you its history, anecdotes and curiosities, in the most fun way, you will be the one who decides, at the end of the tour, the price this deserves. Make sure you have a spot by booking now!
Madrid has gone from being a small Arab town to the nerve centre of the world’s largest and most powerful empire. Over the course, Madrid has lived it all! From the dreaded Spanish Inquisition to the counterculture of «La Movida»; from the various totalitarian dictatorships to anarchist bombings… While at the same time, the people of Madrid have been building one of the most welcoming and friendly characters you can find.
Sign up for the fascinating history of Madrid and meet the electrifying character of its people!
Meeting Point – Puerta del Sol, at the fountain, in front of the Royal Post Office. Burgundy umbrella (red wine color)
Their Description – Get to know the city in charge of specialized guides that will tell you in the most entertaining way all the curiosities and history of the most relevant places in Madrid. Meet and learn in a fun way and share with people similar to you from different parts of the world. “Collect Moments instead of things”
We will MAKE YOUR DAY with this historical and entertaining 2 hours and not just this, also the following days with a useful list of places selected with several things to do around Madrid, one of the most visited cities in the world.
COLLECT MOMENTS NOT THINGS with a small-sized group and access to marvelous places. Let your imagination run wild with special pictures of amazing facts in the past. Are you ready to FALL IN LOVE!? We will not let you down!
We are a new company that is making its way through this new trend in world tourism, focusing on two of the most important capitals in Europe and Latin America, Madrid and Buenos Aires. We seek to take people through every detail of history and culture in all its forms; from the way we behave, and the places we like, to the things we eat and cook. Join us and let MAGERIT surprise you.
About the Tour
Join us on this 2 hours historical walk experience, to see and learn the must seen things about this important European Capital “Madrid”.
We’ll be covering all the historical Neighborhood inside and outside what was the Medieval wall, passing by the Muslim origins of Magerit since the 9th century, 16th and 17th Century with the strong Austrias dynasty and a sneak peek about the arrival of the Borbons to Spain in the 18th.
You’ll get a big history summery with lots of local information about the must see places to visit before you leave, and the gastronomical advices that can’t be missed.
o We are Leaf Madrid Tours, a young group of Madrilenians who love our city and who teach it with passion, joy and professionalism. We are a 100% local company, from Madrid, with unforgettable experiences and memories in this city. That is why we want everyone who comes to discover their inner part and thus take away their most special part.
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Discover with Madrid of the Austrians Old City the creation of the millenary Madrid with our Local Guides.
Tour around the most centric and full of stories part of the city while discovering the secrets that compose the essence of Madrid.
Plunge into the Madrid of the Habsburg Monarchy, discover the arrival of the Bourbons as well as the events of the darkest and brightest period of the history of the city. Get in touch with the past times of Spain, with the Madrid Capital of Empire and understand the city nowadays.
Plaza Mayor, Almudena Cathedral, Royal Palace and the oldest restaurant in the world will be some of the spots to visit in our journey. But many more hidden stories are waiting to be discovered in a different and special way! Book your tour and start to do it!
Here we leave you a video with some explanations about the Tour, enjoy it! 🙂
Joining our 3 hours Free Walking Tour Madrid Essential you will explore the different sides of Madrid, visiting hidden streets and colorful places full of life of Madrid.
Our guides will tell you the legends and anecdotes of Madrid presenting you places and monuments of important events of the history from the beginning of the existence of Madrid till the culture and the nightlife of this amazing city.
Some of the places what we will visit:
*Puerta del Sol *Chocolatería de San Ginés *Cathedral of Almudena *Royal Palace *the oldest restaurant of the world
If you want to know more about the Spanish capital through more legends and anecdotes we suggest you to go to our Free Walking Tour Madrid Highlights too what we have every day at 17:00 because with this tour you can visit other amazing parts of Madrid.
This activity includes:
Professional guide
Free map
Madrid’s essentials
· Madrid of the Austrians. A walk around the old city. –
o I am graduated in Tourism and an expert showing the anecdotes and secrets of Madrid. Discovering cities is my passion wherever I travel to. Let me show you this beautiful city from a new dimension. What Madrid do you fancy today?
o About the Tour
This tour starts in Puerta del Sol the very center of Madrid! A lot of stories are hidden in this square. We will head to the Plaza Mayor and we will discover narrow streets, the oldest restaurant and picturesque squares and corners. We will lead to the point where the city of Madrid was founded (including beautiful sights) The tour ends in front of the Royal Palace sorrounded by the Oriente gardens. Maximum of 10 people per tour. The minimum is 2 people.
Would you dare to walk the old streets of Madrid and discover its darkest secrets?
Immerse yourself in our exclusive “Haunted Madrid” Tour and travel with us through a paranormal tour that dusts off the legends, curiosities, myths and inexplicable stories that few dares to tell. We will visit many places with old legends, dark stories and gruesome happenings that will make your body shiver.
The founder Angel Cabello opened this shop after working as a manager for over 30 years in the famous English Mantequerías in the Calle del Prado in Madrid.
A. Cabello Mantegueria is now the oldest food supermarket (1877) in Madrid. In 2000 Angel Cabello died and his sons Angel and Mario continued to run the business.
Here we can find quality products such as oils, honey, jams, world renowned Olive Oil Cookies from ‘Ines Rosales’ or ‘Bonbon de Higo’, the award winning best Spain sweet (chocolate and fig).
The story of Inés Rosales begins in a small town of Sevilla. About 100 years ago, a woman, Inés Rosales Cabello, made (using an old family recipe) a sweet olive oil torta in her home. With the help of other women from the area, she began to sell her tortas in the old train station in Seville, carrying them in wicker baskets. This way the travellers took them to their destinations and it wasn’t long until the legend of her delicious tortas had spread all over Spain.
Inés Rosales sweet olive oil tortas continue to be handmade following the original recipe.
This is a beautiful place, one that has stopped in time and prevented all of the delicacies of Spain from fading. Friendly and unique.
Madrid’s world-famous modern art gallery. Free Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7pm until 9pm. Saturday afternoons (from 2.30pm) and Sunday mornings (until 2.30pm).
Spain’s most popular tourist sight a The Museo del Prado is Spain’s premier art gallery, housing the finest works of art Spain has ever produced. Free 6pm until 8pm from Monday to Saturday and 5pm until 8pm on Sundays.
Madrid’s Blind Museum, maintained by ONCE, the Spanish blind association. Not so much about the blind as for them – which means lots of touchy-feely exhibits that anyone can enjoy. A bit different from the average museum.
The Story – ANDÉN CERO, the name given to our underground museums will take visitors through the history of this revolutionary means of transport for the city of Madrid. It has three different spaces of undeniable historical value designed by the famous architect Antonio Palacios: the Pacífico Power Plant and ticket hall and Chamberí Station. In addition, Carpetana and Ópera Stations will take us on completely different journeys to the old Madrid and even to the Madrid of millions of years ago.
The arrival of the underground system to Madrid meant a radical change for the city in early 20th century. Today, the underground system continues to impact the social, cultural and economic structures in the region.
Former barracks that now houses a number of interesting sights. The main attraction is the contemporary art museum, but there is also the Conde Duque, the city archive, libraries of history, music and newspapers and the artisan printing press. Always Free.
If you can’t get to see a live bullfight in Spain, at least check out the bullfighting museum, which explains the history of the Spanish pastime and features some pretty gory artifacts – including bulls’ heads and blood stained costumes from matadors that have died fighting. Always Free.
Open-air abstract art museum that makes the best use of the dead space under a bypass. Artists featured here include Joan Miro and Eduardo Chillida. Always Free.
Works by Goya, Velázquez and El Greco, among others. If you’ve already done Madrid’s top three museums and are looking for a fourth museum of fine art – you’ve found it.
It was the Spanish who ‘discovered’ the Americas, and this fact is commemorated in this museum. Also goes some way to examining their pre-colonial history.
Madrid’s grand park, slap-bang in the middle of the city. With a lake, trees, flower gardens, chapel ruins and the Palacio de Cristal, it makes a perfect (and close) retreat from the hustle of Madrid’s city life. Always Free.
For a park that is off the beaten path, take the green line 5 nearly to the end and explore a secluded slice of garden romance in Parque del Capricho. It is open only on the weekends from 9 am to 6:30 pm October through March and 9 am to 9 pm April through September.
